Potential risk factors for septic arthritis*. Results are given as No (%)
| Risk factor | Number of patients with proven SA (n=47) | Number of patients with suspected SA (n=35) |
|---|---|---|
| *No statistically significant differences found; †within three months; ‡within six months; §one patient hepatitis C positive; ¶within two weeks. | ||
| Local factors | ||
| Primary joint disease | 32 (68) | 18 (51) |
| Prosthetic joint | 18 (38) | 7 (20) |
| Blunt trauma | 1 (2) | 1 (3) |
| Penetrating trauma | 0 | 1 (3) |
| Primary periarticular abscess | 2 (4) | 1 (3) |
| Recent intra-articular steroid† | 3 (6) | 3 (9) |
| Recent joint surgery‡ | 5 (11) | 2 (6) |
| Previous septic arthritis | 4 (9) | 1 (3) |
| Distant sites of infection | ||
| Intravenous drug abuse | 5 (11) | 3 (9)§ |
| Leg ulceration | 5 (11) | 3 (9) |
| Chest infection | 7 (15) | 4 (11) |
| Cholangitis | 2 (4) | 0 |
| Cellulitis | 0 | 1 (3) |
| Infected finger | 0 | 1 (3) |
| Permanent pacemaker¶ | 2 (4) | 0 |
| Gonococcal urethritis | 0 | 1 (3) |
| Pharyngitis | 2 (4) | 1 (3) |
| Systemic diseases | ||
| Diabetes mellitus | 2 (4) | 2 (6) |
| Alcoholic liver disease | 2 (4) | 1 (3) |